OpenAI's Laura Modiano on hackathons, Lovable and how startups can partner with the tech giant

OpenAI's Laura Modiano on hackathons, Lovable and how startups can partner with the tech giant

Author: Sifted March 26, 2026 Duration: 43:47
Within a relatively short space of time, Laura Modiano has come to play a fairly unique and valuable role in Europe’s startup scene. Laura, who leads OpenAI’s startup team in Europe, hops from city to city, attending hackathons, events and dinners with Europe’s leading AI companies and investors. This week she sits down with host Amy Lewin to discuss what the best startups have in common, how she’s automated her work and what she looks for as an angel investor. This podcast was brou...

Each week on Startup Europe-The Sifted Podcast, host Amy Lewin sits down with the people actually shaping the continent's technology landscape. This isn't about abstract theories or distant analysis; it's built from direct conversations with the founders rolling up their sleeves, the operators scaling teams, and the investors backing the next big ideas. Alongside Sifted's own journalists, Amy delves into the specifics of building a business, examining the strategies, setbacks, and successes that define the journey. The discussions go beyond the headlines to explore the real mechanics and human stories behind the companies causing a stir. Tuning into this podcast offers a genuine, behind-the-scenes look at innovation as it happens, grounded in the reporting and network that Sifted brings. It’s for anyone curious about the practical realities of European tech, from seasoned investors to aspiring entrepreneurs wanting to hear how it’s really done. You’ll find a focus on tangible lessons and candid insights, making each episode a detailed snapshot of a dynamic and fast-moving ecosystem.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 100

Startup Europe — The Sifted Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Could Europe become a world leader in robotics? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:05
What do hazardous inspections, fighting and cooking crêpes have in common? All three are tasks that robots are now capable (ish) of performing. In 2025, equity investment into European robotics startups more than doubled…
Tiny VC partner Philipp Moehring on when to take money off the table [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:07
European seed rounds are ballooning. Last month Yann LeCun’s AMI Labs picked up $1bn at a $3bn valuation while David Silver’s Ineffable Intelligence was reported to be raising $1bn at a $4bn valuation. “Thankfully, the b…
Meet the 100 fastest-growing startups in the UK and Ireland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:18
This week at Sifted we launched our third UK and Ireland Leaderboard — a ranking of the 100 fastest-growing startups by revenue-growth across these two countries, as well as a new research report, in partnership with law…
What are world models — and are they Europe’s winning AI bet? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:44
The AI debate has been dominated by large language models used to power the likes of ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini. But could the next wave of AI look very different? Yes, some European AI watchers say. Attention is shiftin…